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Jarek W (fizolof)

We use (2) & (3) as well. (Excepting the luck check, which is a good idea.) But even then, there's a lot of stable locations that get little love in our games. The Newspaper and Church are just too tempting

I like Hypnos, but was hoping to find a few things that could be used in all games without necessarily adding a Guardian. I think of him as more of a thematic addition. Also I think maybe something that doesn't tweak difficulty too much.

I use a house rule where, whenever there is a monster surge, you rotate all clues on the map one (non-street) location clockwise. This often tends to shift them onto stable locations. If you go to shift a clue and it would wind up on a gate, keep shifting it till it gets to a location with no gate.

I also shift a clue clockwise if it would get eaten by a gate opening on it.

This rule might make the game a little easier, since no clues get destroyed, but it makes it more fun, since every location tends to get visited and encountered.

I use a house rule where, whenever there is a monster surge, you rotate all clues on the map one (non-street) location clockwise. This often tends to shift them onto stable locations. If you go to shift a clue and it would wind up on a gate, keep shifting it till it gets to a location with no gate.

I also shift a clue clockwise if it would get eaten by a gate opening on it.

This rule might make the game a little easier, since no clues get destroyed, but it makes it more fun, since every location tends to get visited and encountered.

Hey, I like that one. Hmm, we might still have gates eat clues, but I like the idea of rotating the clue positions. I suppose the concern would be removing the chance for clues to be taken out by gates. Maybe only a 50% chance of a shift per clue on a surge. Really interesting idea.

What about putting starting clues on all stable locations, rather than unstable? It might not make as much sense thematically, but it would at least increase the likelihood of visiting those locations.

I've also pondered, somewhat related, the idea of rolling a die to see if you have a location encounter prior to your special encounter at locations that have them. Why couldn't you, for example, have another encounter on your way into the general store, or on your way to pray at the church?

What about putting starting clues on all stable locations, rather than unstable? It might not make as much sense thematically, but it would at least increase the likelihood of visiting those locations.

I've also pondered, somewhat related, the idea of rolling a die to see if you have a location encounter prior to your special encounter at locations that have them. Why couldn't you, for example, have another encounter on your way into the general store, or on your way to pray at the church?

The problem with putting clues on stable locations is that you make the game a lot easier. You're basically eliminating the chance for the clue to be removed when a gate appears. I like the rotating clue idea because you can possibly rotate into a gate and remove the clue that way. I think we may try only a chance (50%) that a clue (or entire neighborhood) will rotate on a monster surge.

We actually use that houserule for green special encounter locations -- it's basically a Luck +0 roll to have an extra encounter after you use the special location ability, but I suppose it could be before as well.

One of the houserules I use is that if you want to use a special ability at a location, you have to have an encounter there first. Afterwards, if you're still there and not delayed, you can use the ability. It's not a perfect rule, but I think it's pretty fun usually.

One of the houserules I use is that if you want to use a special ability at a location, you have to have an encounter there first. Afterwards, if you're still there and not delayed, you can use the ability. It's not a perfect rule, but I think it's pretty fun usually.

That's a good rule, and I think we're liking that it happens before the special ability' might just change that -- we'll probably keep the Luck roll just to add a bit more randomness to it.

The problem is still there for locations that don't have a special ability -- Velma's, Train Station, Newspaper, Library (even Ma's and the Admin building don't get used so often) -- both the Train Station and Newspaper have some pretty good encounters so people tend to go there... I'm really liking the Luck encounter plus the chance for a clue rotation to get players to stable spots more often... Thanks everyone for some great suggestions!

I suggest, every time you pick up a mythos card, roll a dice, and on a six, put a clue token on a random stable location instead of the place specified on the mythos card (maybe in the same neighbourhood?). Should only have a minimal effect on game balance, but should slightly increase the amount of encounters at stable locations. I might try this myself at some stage.

I've tried special ability + random encounter on same turn but didn't like it that much.